Issues : Inaccurate slurs in A

b. 15-16

composition: Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in D♭ major

Slur to bar 16 in A (→FEEE)

Slur to end of bar 15 in FC (→GE)

..

The phrase marks in A are definitely separated after the 1st note in b. 16, as it was 4 bars before. However, the notation may be misleading – the final part of the phrase mark, over b. 15, is very poorly visible (due to low ink levels), while the new phrase mark in b. 16 starts very flat. Consequently, the correct interpretation of notation requires a careful analysis thereof, and Fontana, who was in haste, could have misjudged the moment the phrase marks were divided.

category imprint: Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors of FC

b. 19

composition: Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in D♭ major

Slur to end of bar in A, probable interpretation

Slur to bar 20 in A, possible interpretation (→FCGE, →FEEE)

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The phrase marks of A between the lines are ambiguous – the ending of the phrase mark in b. 19 suggests that it should be continued, which is not confirmed by the beginning of the phrase mark in b. 20. At the same time, both in b. 19 and b. 20 the interpretation is unobvious – in b. 19 the phrase mark does not go beyond the bar line as far as it does the line above or below, while the phrase mark in b. 20 begins after the 1st note, but its flat shape suggests that it is a continuation of the previous one. Similar situations can be found between the lines in b. 12-13 and 21-22. However, they fall within the phrases, and the endings of the phrase marks in b. 12 and 21 are so suggestive that there are no doubts that they should be continued. As in the discussed place a new phrase begins (cf. the phrase mark in b. 5), we suggest two interpretations of A.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 31-32

composition: Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in D♭ major

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In A b. 31 falls at the end of the page, while the L.H. phrase mark (the R.H. too) clearly suggests that it should be continued. However, on a new page, in b. 32, the phrase mark starts only just on the 1st crotchet. We assume that it is the latter that is inaccurate, since a potential division of the phrase marks would be rather symbolic here – the division falls on a tied note. In addition, this is how it was interpreted both in FC (→GE) and FE (→EE).

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 38-39

composition: Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in D♭ major

Slur to bar 39 in A, contextual interpretation

Slur to end of bar 38 in A (possible interpretation→FEEE)

No slur in FC (→GE)

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In A the ending of the phrase mark in b. 38, which closes the line, clearly indicates that it should be continued, which is not confirmed by b. 39, which is devoid of a phrase mark. We solve this slurring inconsistency (frequent in Chopin's works) in favour of the notation in b. 38 – we lead the phrase mark to the semibreve in b. 39, taking into account the four-bar structure of phrases. FE (→EE) adopted a different interpretation, perhaps easier to draw.
The missing phrase mark in FC (→GE) resulted from Fontana's oversight – see b. 34-37.

category imprint: Graphic ambiguousness; Differences between sources

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors of FC , Uncertain slur continuation

b. 47-48

composition: Op. 28 No. 15, Prelude in D♭ major

Slur from bar 48 in A, literal reading

Slur continued from bars 44-46 in A, contextual interpretation (→FCGE, →FEEE)

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The discussed bars are a repetition of b. 31-32, not written out in the manuscripts, marked in an abridged manner. Therefore, we encounter here similar problems concerning the interpretation of the ambiguous L.H. slurring of A – see the note on those bars. The phrase mark written in A under signalized b. 48-58 is a new element; it suggests that their slurring should be different than the first time and that b. 47 is either to be devoid of a phrase mark or provided with the same one as in b. 31. According to us, as was the case with b. 44-46, it is the latter that is correct.
FC does not contain the phrase mark that begins in A in b. 48. Since the entire section written down in an abridged manner is devoid of L.H. phrase marks in this copy, it is the ones present in FC (→GE) for the first time that are valid. 

category imprint: Interpretations within context; Differences between sources; Source & stylistic information

issues: Inaccurate slurs in A , Errors of FC